Obama plans 'serious conversation' with Shinseki

May 30, 2014
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Eric Shinseki / Cliff Owen, AP

by David Jackson, USA TODAY

by David Jackson, USA TODAY

President Obama will meet Friday with Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki amid calls for Shinseki's resignation in the wake of problems with VA hospitals.

Shinseki apologized for those problems during a speech Friday and announced a round of dismissals, but did not indicate his own plans.

In an interview broadcast Friday, Obama said he will have a "serious conversation" with Shinseki about whether he can stay in his job and fix problems with VA hospitals.

Appearing on "Live With Kelly and Michael," Obama said he will ask Shinseki whether "he is prepared and has the capacity" to deal with long wait times for VA patients and allegations that some officials have tried to cover them up. ABC's Good Morning America broadcast a clip of Obama's interview Friday morning.

"I don't want any veteran to not be getting the kind of services they deserved," Obama said.

Shinseki is scheduled to deliver a report to Obama about the allegations during the mid-morning meeting in the Oval Office.

Critics have blamed long wait times for the deaths of some VA patients.

More than 100 members of Congress have called for Shinseki's removal as VA secretary because of problems within the health care system for veterans.

In a speech to a group fighting homelessness among veterans, Shinseki said he has been "too trusting" of some VA officials. He announced the removal of "the leaders" of the VA hospital in Phoenix, where delayed treatments have been blamed for as many as 40 deaths.

An inspector general's report found deep problems within the health care system that provides medical care to some 6.5 million veterans every year.

"I can't explain the lack of integrity," Shinseki said. "I will not defend it because it is not defensible."